Happy Mother’s Day!

Who needs breakfast in bed? I have a blue-green eyed alarm clock that blows kisses when she wakes me each morning. Just now she interrupted her exploration of her toys, the tag in the back of her discarded pajamas and the headboard to squirm over and give me a hug. This is one sweet baby and I am one lucky mama. If you are a mama – be sure to take a moment today to reflect on how lucky you are to be a mama.

This is my first Mother’s Day as a mama. Last year I was pregnant, but had just passed my first trimester and I was still so scared that all the cramping, bleeding and throwing up would hurt my unborn baby. I am still amazed each day to see this active, inquisitive little girl who made me a mom. Being a mom is not easy. We’ve had cold after cold, food allergies that cause tummy aches and even bleeding, sleepless nights, months of fussy teething, biting, pulling hair, and all of the other not-so-fun parts of parenting. Through it all, the sight of her smile reminds me that this adventure is one of the greatest on earth.

The gift of the infertility I struggled with all those years is that it is a constant reminder of how lucky I am to be a mom. Last Sunday, I sat in church next to my own mother, her oxygen tank at her side helping to keep her breathing. In her lap, my little girl happily played with a tiny doll that was once mine. I was reminded again how lucky I am to have my mother still here with us – and how amazing it is to be a mama too.

No matter how your day goes, be sure to take a moment today to reflect on how lucky you are to be a mama. You have the most important job on the planet. You are creating the future with every diaper changed, every fever soothed, every question answered. Your every action will be scrutinized, every statement challenged, every choice second-guessed. You’ll go to bed tired and wake up exhausted. You’ll be lucky to eat an uninterrupted meal. You’ll wonder many days how you can do all that is required of you.

Motherhood is not for the faint of heart, but benefits are unmatched. The job comes with unlimited smiles, as many hugs as you can fit into a day, and the reward of knowing that you hold the future in your heart.